Man Arrested in Florida for Allegedly Stealing $44,000 Meant for Cooking Oil Purchase in Cuba

A 25-year-old man was taken into custody in Collier County, Florida, accused of absconding with $44,000 that was intended for purchasing cooking oil for a recipient in Cuba, as reported by Gulf Coast News.

Bryan Jesús Camallery Pérez, residing in Naples, allegedly used the alias "Frank Linares" in a transaction that was valued at a total of $77,500.

The individual who was scammed, whose identity remains undisclosed, was supposed to hand over $44,000 to Pérez. However, the payment was contingent on the confirmation from his brother in Cuba that the cooking oil had indeed been received.

To amass the necessary funds, the victim made three separate trips to a Wells Fargo branch on Palm Beach Boulevard in Lee County, withdrawing $15,000 each time. The report does not clarify why these withdrawals amounted to $45,000 while only $44,000 was intended for the payment.

The victim and Camallery Pérez eventually met at a Publix on Thomasson Drive. The agreement was that the money would not be transferred until the Cuban brother verified the receipt of the oil.

The sum of $44,000 was stored in a small black bag. According to Gulf Coast News, they counted the cash in a vehicle, and Camallery Pérez even examined the bills to ensure authenticity.

While waiting for the Cuban confirmation, they ate and spent time at the beach. Later, they stopped at a BP gas station on Collier Boulevard for a restroom break.

Camallery Pérez went in first, but when the victim entered the restroom, he left the gas station.

The victim subsequently contacted the Collier County Sheriff's Office, explaining that both the cash and his keys were left in the vehicle. Officers reviewed the gas station's surveillance footage, identifying the car and later Camallery Pérez.

Upon discovery, Camallery Pérez was wearing the same outfit and jewelry seen in the footage.

During an interview, Camallery Pérez admitted to leaving the gas station while the victim was in the restroom, claiming the victim "acted strangely" and mentioned having only part of the money. However, he denied seeing the cash and professed ignorance about its whereabouts.

Investigators found the victim's keys during a vehicle search, but the black bag with $44,000 was missing.

Footage from a smart doorbell camera at the accused's residence provided further evidence. According to the police report cited by Gulf Coast News, Camallery Pérez was seen entering and exiting his home with the black bag before taking an Uber to Physicians Regional Medical Center on Pine Ridge Road. Upon his return, the bag was no longer in his possession.

Collier County's public arrest records show that Camallery Pérez was booked on September 15 for grand theft of $20,000 or more but less than $100,000.

Under Florida law, stealing property valued between $20,000 and less than $100,000 is considered a second-degree felony.

The case is particularly noteworthy due to the intended use of the money: purchasing cooking oil for Cuba, a country experiencing a severe shortage with skyrocketing prices.

In June, Alberto López Díaz, the Minister of the Food Industry, acknowledged that no oil had been distributed through ration books in 2026. Following the removal of the national cap of 990 pesos on imported edible oils, prices surged from approximately 1,500 pesos in April to 4,000 pesos per liter in August, with subsequent reports of bottles selling for up to 7,000 pesos.

The scarcity forces many families to seek alternative ways to obtain cooking oil. By the end of August, a Cuban grandmother shared how she and two others unsuccessfully attempted to buy oil. Additionally, in early September, a truck loaded with oil was looted by dozens of people in Havana, despite police presence.

Florida has also seen scams involving fake shipping agencies and identity theft targeting individuals trying to send money or goods to family members on the island.